NAME: Indian
Key COUNTY:Monroe
ROADS:2WD
CLIMATE: Nice
and warm all the time. BEST TIME TO VISIT: Anytime.

COMMENTS:Indian Key is a small Island.REMAINS: Very
little, tours are offered.

Key West held an upper hand in all the wreaking
salvage in the keys until Jacob Houseman arrived from New York, He set up
a station on Indian Key in 1831 after disputes with the salvage industry
on Key West. Indian Key became a thriving port with a store, hotel, and
dwellings with cisterns, warehouses, and wharves. In 1836 he had the Legislative
council to establish Indian Key as the county seat of Monroe County. In
1838 Dr. Henry Perrine moved to Indian Key with an interest in tropical
plants. He planted hemp, tea, coffee, bananas, and mangos. during the 2nd
Seminole War, (The Seminole Wars being the longest, and most expensive of
all the Indian Wars in the United States) Houseman's island became endangered
and a military outpost was established on nearby Tea Table Key as protection.
On August 7, 1840, a band of Indians led by a famous Indian Chief named
Chekika landed on the island and attacked the settlers. Houseman and his
wife escaped but others were killed during the burning and looting. Dr.
Perrine's family escaped by hiding in a turtle crawl under the house however,
Dr. Perrine was "hacked" to pieces in an attempt to reason with the Indian
party. Except for one building and the stone foundations all the homes and
warehouses were burned to the ground. Houseman and his family left and did
not return. Indian Key continued to be inhabited until the early part of
the 1900's when it was abandoned completely. Houseman was killed in a salvage
accident in 1841 and is buried on Indian Key. Dr. Perrine's groves have
grown over many of the ruins. Indian Key is now an historical park and can
be visited. For information call: (305)664-4815 By the way: The country
was so enraged that they sent Lt. Col. Harney from Fort Dallas (Miami) to
catch Chekika. His band was surprised in the Everglades by Harney and his
troops. Chekika was killed, scalped, and hung from a tree for all to see.
This event broke the back of much of the Indian resistance in the area.
- Submitted by Michael Woodfin